Three Years Later - Guard Position Still A Problem

I've been a pretty ardent supporter of Ted Thompson and his methodology for building the Packers. One of his earliest moves was to allow the starting offensive guards he inherited from Mike Sherman's team to leave, and to basically dismantle the entire interior of the offensive line, rebuilding it through the draft and by promoting from within.

Well, three years later, two of the three starters on Thompson's interior offensive line simply can not play the positions they are being asked to play. Starting guards Daryn Colledge and Junius Coston are the biggest reasons this Packer team can not run the ball, and they were the main culprits behind the complete breakdown of the running game in the second half against the Bears. Play after play, Colledge and Coston missed assignments, or were simply easily handled by the Bears defender they were being asked to block. The specter that haunted the line last season, the failed backside block, was once again prevalent on more than one occasion.

Many will argue that both Coston and Colledge are performing well in pass pro, and say this has much to do with the surprising start for the Packers. I would counter that they are benefiting more from having a Hall of Fame quarterback making the right reads and getting rid of the football than from their own prowess holding off the onrushing hoards. Besides, the job is not just to pass block. That's half the job. Would your boss be satisfied if you did half your job? I didn't think so.

It does not speak well that the unit that was cited more often than not this past off-season as one of the main strengths of the team, has been one of the worst performing units on the football team. What is Thompson's answer to this? What moves will he make after the season is over? He simply can not continue, with Colledge especially, if the Packers are ever to have a semblance of a decent offensive line.

 

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